In the video: Ben Gvir: "Guardian of Walls 2 is coming - we will raise salaries for all police officers" (Photo: Roni Knafo)
Following the announcement of the death of Hamza Abu Ghanem, who was shot early in the morning (Friday) in Lod, the Abraham Initiatives Association, which monitors the number of murdered people in Arab society, updated that 46 Arabs, all men except for one woman, took their lives in 2023 in circumstances related to violence and crime.
44 of the victims were shot to death.
19 of the victims were under 30 years old.
Considering that the 15th week of 2023 is not yet over - these numbers are both shocking and unprecedented.
This is a rate of three or more murdered every week.
This is a number that is more than double the number of those murdered last year.
As of April 14, 2022, according to the same data base, the number of people murdered in Arab society was 22. At the current doubling rate, the year 2023 may end for the first time in the country's history with over 200 people murdered in Arab society - when 2022 ended with 116 victims;
2021 with 126, 2020 with 96, 2019 with 89 and in 2018 the number was 71 victims.
Something is not working.
Ben Gabir (Photo: Flash 90, Yonatan Zindel)
And in contrast to the shocking numbers stands the bombastic announcement by the Minister of Internal Security Itamar Ben Gabir before and after the elections, that he will eradicate crime in Arab society, as well as the Sisyphean efforts made by the Israel Police.
Something in the formula isn't working.
No one in the government knows what to say, no one takes responsibility for this trend.
It is customary to point the finger of blame at the main victim - Arab society.
The Knesset's special committee for the eradication of crime in Arab society, chaired by the chairman of the RA MK Mansour Abbas, formulated in 2020 a comprehensive plan to eradicate the phenomenon. At a special meeting, it presented to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu an outline of action that the government under his leadership at the time was supposed to adopt as a five-year plan 2021-2025. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the efforts, asked to include the proposals heard at that summary meeting for the plan - but since then its traces have not been known.
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Suspected murder: a 25-year-old man was shot to death in Lod, the police started an investigation
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Hamza Abu Ghanem who was shot to death this morning in Lod (photo: documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law, Article 27 A of the Copyright Law)
The police characterized a number of factors behind the phenomenon, chief among them the internal conflicts in Arab society and even established a dedicated wing whose task was sharpened in the second phase to thwart conflicts, with its own headquarters at the base between Kiryat Ata and Shafaram, close to the concentration of the Arab population in Israel, in the north.
Just this week, the central police unit in the Coastal District, one of the most experienced and professional police units in the field, thwarted an assassination attempt against the background of such a conflict.
In an undercover investigation that was conducted at the IMR as part of a proactive activity, the suspicion arose that members of one of the criminal gangs operating in the Western Galilee intended to carry out an assassination attempt. On Tuesday, the eve of the second Passover, intelligence was already received that the members of the gang intended to carry out their plan immediately. Mahira's detectives quickly arrested six members of the criminal cell that was suspected of being in the middle of the assassination.
During the arrest of the suspects, two guns and ammunition, three vehicles that were used to commit the act - with one of them suspected to be stolen, a bottle of gasoline, masks and gloves were seized.
The suspects, aged 22-32, residents of Acre and Nahariya, were taken for questioning at the offices of the Coast Guard on suspicion of attempted murder, carrying a weapon, stealing a car, conspiring to commit a crime, and more.
At the request of the police, the Haifa Magistrate's Court extended the detention of five of them until Thursday.
The arrest of another suspect was extended until Tuesday.
The investigation continues.
Making efforts.
Policemen, illustration (Photo: Flash 90, Eric Marmor)
The police spokesman, Assistant Superintendent Eli Levy, says that "the Israel Police continues a determined and uncompromising fight against the phenomenon of violence and crime in the Arab Street while investing maximum technological resources and manpower while combining arms between the police and the corresponding law enforcement bodies with the aim of strengthening the sense of security in the Arab Street and the governance" .
According to him, "This effort by the Israel Police is yielding a long series of successes, such as the thwarting of dozens of planned murders that we foil as a result of accurate intelligence and the round-the-clock work of AHM and YMR officials in all police districts. The Israel Police in the last two years dozens of attempts to smuggle weapons from the country's borders along with the confiscation of assets and funds worth over two billion shekels, what is more, as part of a safe route enforcement operation led by the commissioner and the head of the IDF, we as the Israel Police with the attorney's office and the prosecution division filed over 600 indictments against major perpetrators of crime on the Arab Street, including over 40 members of criminal organizations. Even after the seizure of weapons and the filing of indictments, we are on a significant increase, and this is again the result of thorough, professional police work against the perpetrators of crime. To remind you, a Siff Division was established. We confiscated hundreds of vehicles in theP with the Tax Authority and we are making a very significant effort in dealing with the phenomenon of collecting sponsorship fees along with leading various legislative changes that will result in heavier penalties and deterrence." And the prosecutions and the Sif Division and the Ministry of Defense are busy trying to deal with the phenomenon of violence and crime on Arab Street."
The arrest of the suspects in the assassination attempt in the north (Photo: Israel Police spokeswoman)
But at the same time, senior police officers all say: "There are no policemen" and point to "what will change" this year - hundreds and thousands of demonstrations across the country, sometimes dozens and hundreds in one day, all of which require the attention of the police.
The lives of the Arabs in Israel were abandoned.
When the minister in charge of personal security stops plans to deal with the phenomenon for reasons that are not relevant, it is clear that the blood of the homeless has been lost.
Those who promised to increase personal security fail to bring results.
Big statements, but no actions.
The void left by the state in Arab society, the illegal weapons, organized crime - all of these close the stranglehold on the Arab citizens.
The government programs offered hope, but when there is no one to make the matter a national priority, the phenomenon will spread and grow.
This is a problem of national magnitude and should be treated as such.
Any reference less than this is the lawlessness of two million Arab citizens.
Insists on a national guard.
Ben Gabir (photo: photo processing, Yonatan Zindel Flash 90)
Minister Ben Gvir's office said in response that "the recent events in Lod show how right Minister Ben Gvir is when he insists on a national guard. Only a dedicated force that will deal with crime in the Arab sector and the mixed cities can lead to peace. Minister Ben Gvir has been aiming for a goal and has been working for three months to get this guard out to practice and all the accusations that it is supposedly a private guard will not help. The National Guard is the order of the hour and our option to defeat crime on the street and in the Arab sector."
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